Today Tenley is two. Our baby. The one who started potty training herself, and yet still poops on the floor when she feels like it. And last night, after she made her nightly “rocky me” request, I balled my eyes out that it was the very last night I would ever have a one-year-old. Ridiculous, but true. Her first birthday didn’t phase me so I’m not sure why this one hits me. It’s not that I want any more kids, because let’s be honest - five is a lot of kids y’all. There’s just something about knowing this one with her curly baby mullet, solid frame, and her daddy’s booty is closing the chapter on ONE.
At the same time, it’s hard to believe she’s only two. It seems as if she’s always been part of our family and we couldn’t imagine our lives without her. Sure, many days I wonder what in the actual h*ll we were thinking, having four kids. But we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our hands are full, but so are our hearts. Now that being said, she’s the one that God gave us to prove a point. As if to say – are you done now? Because this girl is by far the most challenging of any of our toddlers. But da*n, is she funny.
She was THE MOST easy-going infant. Always with a smile on her face, and she would entertain herself for hours. Happily played in a pack and play, even after she began to crawl. The girl was CHILL. And then she had a birthday. I swear, at the turn of the clock one year ago, she decided exactly what she wanted and she better have it now. I joke that “Tenley” is far too dainty of a name for her. She is more suited with the likes of a Gertrude or Helga. One that carries some weight and you get the impression, from a name alone, that you do not want to mess with them. She’s the queen of a shoulder shrug, holds her own with her siblings, and her favorite comebacks are “shutup” and “you’re stupid”.
Our non-discriminatory candy fiend, her favorite breakfast food is “bwead with ‘tella” (Nutella). Because chocolate for breakfast is just how we roll. She has faces for days and likes to play games where she tries or pretends to eat your face. She loves her babies, her kitchen, and playing with her sister. EVERY time she goes up to her room, she changes her clothes. If I put a pull up on her, she returns fully dressed in underwear, half the time with clothes from her sister’s drawers.
She’s my biggest helper and will do anything for a laugh. Affectionately referred to as the monster, she’s always the one to remind us of “pwears”! at dinner time and her bedtime happy thoughts always start with “Owen”! “Nowen, Aubwee”. Just enough sweet to balance her crazy.
Happiest of birthdays Tenley. To the one who, no matter how old you get, will always be our baby.
